A new study by Vauxhall suggests that electric vans may be easier to fit into a working routine than many tradespeople think, especially when it comes to charging.

According to the survey of 1,000 UK tradespeople and home maintenance professionals, the average van driver stops twice a week for a morning break before reaching a customer’s house. And with 60% of those stops lasting between 15 and 45 minutes, there’s a valuable opportunity to top up the battery while grabbing a bacon roll and a brew.

Using a 100kW rapid charger, the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric can charge from 5% to 80% in around 45 minutes — enough to cover an average week’s mileage for many trades. Vauxhall’s figures suggest that a typical driver covers 191 miles per week, comfortably within the Vivaro Electric’s 219-mile official range.

That could help ease one of the biggest concerns among diesel drivers considering a switch to electric, that charging will eat into valuable working hours. 73% of electric van drivers surveyed already recognise that, making use of public rapid chargers at least twice a week.

Breakfast break is all that's needed to charge an EV van

Vans are parked up more than you think

The study also found that most vans used by tradespeople are stationary for up to four hours each day, typically while the driver is working on-site. That opens the door to opportunistic charging during the working day, whether via on-street chargers or even customer wallboxes.

Around 70% of EV van drivers reckon it’s likely customers would let them plug in while they’re on the job, with 15% doing so regularly. Interestingly, three-quarters said they’d be happy to offer a discount, averaging £24, in return for the plug-in privilege.

To support on-the-job charging, Vauxhall continues to back its Electric Streets campaign, working with local authorities and infrastructure providers to increase the availability of residential on-street charge points. The goal is to help van drivers who don’t have access to off-street parking, particularly sole traders and small business owners, make the shift to electric.

Charge an EV van using on-street facilities

Charging at home is still preferred

While rapid and on-the-go charging is useful, most van drivers said their preferred solution remains overnight home charging. Vauxhall is leaning into this by offering SME customers and sole traders a free EV home wallbox and standard installation, worth up to £1,050 including VAT.

The offer, provided through Free2move Charge (by Octopus Energy), is available to buyers of Vauxhall’s electric van range.

Vauxhall managing director Steve Catlin said the research was designed to show that EV vans can slot into existing work patterns without disruption.

“With most tradespeople covering less weekly mileage than the range of a Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, they can comfortably meet their charging needs — all without losing valuable working hours,” he said. “Our research demonstrates how electric vans can easily fit into tradespeople’s lifestyle, whether charging from home overnight, topping up from a rapid charger during a morning breakfast break, or charging while on the job.”

Vauxhall was one of the first brands to offer a fully electric version of every van in its line-up. It has since sold more electric vans in the UK than any other manufacturer, with more than 17,000 now on the road.

Phil Huff
Latest posts by Phil Huff (see all)
Published on